Overview
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the creation of a National Population Council and said he will personally chair the body, directing officials to finalise its structure and set up a Secretariat in the Ministry of Planning.
- The announcement came during a high-level population welfare meeting on Tuesday that was attended by senior ministers and the chief of defence forces, signalling cross-government attention to demographic pressures.
- Officials signalled near-term policy priorities that include linking social protection programmes with family planning, prioritising women's education and economic empowerment, and launching a nationwide public awareness campaign.
- The council will include provincial chief ministers and regional leaders to coordinate implementation, but the briefing did not specify funding, detailed programmes, timelines or how provinces will be brought on board.
- Policymakers cited examples from Bangladesh, Indonesia and Iran as models, and observers should watch for the council's inaugural meeting and published implementation plans because those details will determine whether the initiative eases pressure on services and resources.